Impairment of the immunoregulation in rapidly progressive periodontitis

ABSTRACT

Monoclonal antibodies [MoAbs] were used to characterize the populations and subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [MNCs] from 22 patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis and 22 control subjects. The proportion of T-lymphocytes [OKT33] were decreased, but not significant, in the patient's group. However, the ratio of helper/suppressor [OKT4+/OKT8+] was significantly decreased in the patient's group compared with the control group. The percentages of B-lymphocytes [Ig+ cells] and monocytes [anti-leu M33] were markedly increased in the patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. In the view of these findings, it seems likely that, the changes in proportions of regulatory T-lymphocytes and monocytes may explain, at least in part, the impaired immune response, previously reported to be existed in patients exhibiting sever destruction of periodontal tissues